more than seven years of hang-gliding experience, and he had placed third in the 1980 European Hang Gliding Championships, in Austria, a few months earlier. As we talked, he told me that he thought he might have injured his ankle in the soccer game down on the landing field. "I think Caroline de Glanville did it," he said. "She's a good little soccer player. I think she kicked me, or something. Maybe she bit me." He grinned and added, "So far, I'm not really disabled, but I'm going to have i to watch it." I asked Hobson how he got into the sport. "It was a very natural thing," he said. "It was in 1973, and I was eigh- teen and about ready to start studying chemistry and physics at Sheffield U ni- versity. I mean, I was going to do the usual thing and get a university de- gree. Then I saw some hang gliding, and that changed my whole life Once _ ! r:. !:f ! e e ':.d.:2: ! : r.: :: !,:: : : ,: o e * I tried it myself, I knew that I had to keep on doing it, so I got myself a glider, and I was out flying just as often as I could. I started at university, but soon I became too involved in hang gliding to continue. So I came home one day and said to my parents -to their horror-'I've changed my mind. I'm going to drop out of univer- sity and open a hang-gliding school.' My dad threw a wobbler. It was an absolutely typical parental reaction. But they've grown used to it. Now, with a partner, I run two hang-glid- ing schools, one in Manchester, where I live, and the other in Sheffield." By noon, the wind was still blowing at a slight angle to the launch ramp. The sky was a steely gray, and bleak, and a number of people were stampIng their feet. From time to time, officials at the launch site communicated with their colleagues on the landing field over their FM radios, but conditions , were still considered too dangerous, and the command to fly had not yet been issued. Then, at twelve-forty- five, a radioed message came from Sean Dever, who was in the valley, that the winds appeared to be shifting for the better. A few minutes later, " two wind dummies-one with a green glider and the other with a yellow- and-orange one-moved into position to take off. By this time, each of the wind dummies had been fastened into his harness, which was made mostly of thick nylon straps, and now each one asked a companion to give him a "hang check" -to make absolutely sure that he was properly positioned in his harness THE NEW YOR.KER. 133 s s :E T j / ,0( tw ".::: , }J ' ',:. '> . \> . 4, .$;::''' i{ > "" 4 4 " "Û "%" '4 ......; ).. ^ , ^ - ^ $ ... ..' ;:::.' ;. >-.,', '* ".. .. h :;.' /.. The American Express'!- 1981 Expressly Yours Christmas Catalog is now available to American Express Cardm.embers. OUf newes catalog is fiUedwith great gift ideas and items for yourself, your home and your office. Many are exclusive# aU are Intriguing. AMERICAN EXPRESS American Express Company, O. Box 531, Oceanside, New York 11572 YES-I wa nt to receive a copy of the America n Express 1981 Expressly Yours@ Christmas CataloQ. PI asePnnt: Name Addre ss City State Zip MyAmerican Express Card Account Number Is: CIIIJ rnrro DITD (Required) @ American Expres$ Company 1981 Plea$e aJlow4 weeks for delivery 81Y %>- .. . y' Thane makes the difference. '- -\ . y .;; 'f ':: X /'." .:;v ( j . . . with hand framed cables in this pure traditional crew neck pullover of luxurious 100 0 /0 Shetland wool. At these stores or call for nearby store. Thane, 1290 Ave. of the Americas New York N.Y. 10104. (212) 265-7665 '.J> > ..t '1 . '" ,1 "iÞ-, > f.:: i:.... - (. :::;:$ -e-'. ....::. / ......;;.,t :. ^'-" , .. ' .. , \. C' t \ P': . \ :::,:-<( THANE / ' _,w.- w} :::: ::.. >. : i:: ". ). , " . -::. 1 <', . > ..ï \( . : . ..:.:.: .,f:... ::::.' t (..'. . t : , {. ..' (-:,:- "; w ,. 'y. , -,\: \\-\ \\ " :'\ '. $",' ;;:,i,;? ' . .:.;.' .:::. <:;':: > .." .. :=-.. ":? :' <0/ i:::f: Stratford Cable at Machugh, Inc., N.J. &. Vermont. Juster's Minneapolis Minn.; McFarlin's, Rochester N.Y.; Levy's Nashville Tenn .- ;' j , :..., i ... \ .:.>x ..\ . '. -: :: :::::.' ". ...."{'. \ . .t"< .' ^' .,$ ....<<= ;f'. .Þj "^ ..